The Gemini 9-A crew, Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene Cernan, were launched from Cape Kennedy on June 3, 1966. After the loss of the original Agena target vehicle during launch on May 17, the substitute vehicle, the Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA), was launched on June 1. Because the shroud failed to deploy properly, no docking could be performed, but the crew successfully performed three different types of rendezvous. Gene Cernan executed the second extra-vehicular activity (EVA) or "space walk" of the Gemini program, but severely overheated due to an overambitious plan and lack of experience with EVAs. After 45 orbits, Stafford and Cernan splashed down on June 6, just 0.7 km from the target.
NASA transferred the Gemini 9-A spacecraft to the Smithsonian in 1967.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
